velvet paws

September 2, 2009

Until recently my favourite French expression was 'nous ne sommes pas sortis de l'auberge ', meaning 'we're not out of the woods yet.'

But yesterday a French friend, discussing problems at work, told me she was going to 'faire pattes de velours' or proceed 'with velvet paws' with her demanding boss. In other words, take a softly softly approach. But it conjures up such a charming mental image, that I'm planning to weave it into the conversation at least once a day for the forseeable future.

comments (6)

Hello I found your book on the mail website and then your blog which I enjoyed reading - I too am a single female - home in France - I am over in the east north of Dijon and enjoying my restoration. Bought the house in 2004 then a roof and a bathroom ensued I am looking forward to looking through some very expensive artisan built windows in the next few months ! Good luck with your book sales and your life in France - I am still looking forward to meeting my Luis - but with an allergy to dog hair - I must hope for some divine intervention as opposed to canine ! best wishes Lorraine

What a fabulous phrase, it does, as you say, conjure up a delightful image, I picture 'a gorgeous soft, adorable and velvety grey kitten making her first explorations in the outside world!! I will definetly practice this phrase myself and 'slot it in' when the occassion arises.

I have loads of those types of expressions...here are a couple that I like: 'Peigner la girafe' - which means to do something useless (lit: to comb the giraffe) or 'Donner sa langue au chat' - to give up a riddle (lit: to give up one's tongue to the cat!) Simon

Two years ago I hung up my high heels, put the Prada handbags into storage and left behind my fashionable West London life to renovate an old village house in rural France. Et voila. This blog is about what happened next.... more-->